Error?

Theory:
g = 9.8 m/sec2
Measured:
g = 9.7 m/sec2

Relative error
=

Measurement Error?
(how well do you know your measurement of
g = 9.7 m/sec2. Do you know it exactly 9.7 m/sec2 ? ) 3
 Accuracy and Precision

The accuracy of a measurement

system is the degree of closeness
of measurements of a quantity
9.7 m/sec2
• to its true (actual) value.
9.8 m/sec2

• The precision of a measurement

system, also called reproducibility,
is the degree to which repeated
measurements under unchanged
conditions show the same results
How about the precision ?

4
What is the weight?

Least count = 0.1 kg

Weight= 50.8 0.05 kg

5
 Errors in measurement

length of pencil is close to 36 mm.

best estimate = 36.0 mm
Probable range 35.5 to 36.5 mm
Therefore, l = 36.0 0.5 mm

All digital measuring devices has

maximum uncertainty of the order
of half its last digit. i.e. uncertainty
is 0.005 Volts. Thus, assuming the
voltmeter is calibrated accurately, the
value is 12.880 0.005 V.

6
 Importance of uncertainty
Density of gold = 15.5 gm/cm3
Density of alloy = 13.8 gm/cm3

Measurement by Dhoni and Kohli

DHONI best estimate is 15;

probable range:13.5 to 16.5 gm/cm3

KOHLI best estimate is 13.9 and

probable range:13.7 to 14.1 gm/cm3

ERROR BAR

7
 Types of experimental errors

• Systematic error: A clock running consistently 5%

late. Hard to detect. Errors of this type affect all
measurements in same way. They may result
from faulty calibration or bias on part of the
observer.

• Random Error: Fluctuation in observations. These

errors can be reduced only by repeated
measurements. Reducing them is essentially one
of improving experimental method and refining
techniques.

8
 Precise with systematic error

18

16
measured data
14
true values
12

10
Y

2
0 2 4 6 8 10

X
9
 Precise with ?

14

measured data
12
true values

10
Y

2
0 2 4 6 8 10

X
10
 Accurate with ?
18
16
14 measured data
true values
12
10
Y

8
6
4
2
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
X
11
What is the total weight?

Total weight =
weight left side (p)+ weight right side (q)

Total weight = (31.10±0.05)+(31.30±0.05) kg

12
 Maximum probable error in difference and
sum

(Measured p) = pbest δp
(Measured q) = qbest δq
Best estimate for (p+q) is (pbest + qbest )

Highest probable value = (pbest + qbest ) + (δp + δq)

Lowest probable value = (pbest + qbest ) - (δp + δq)

Uncertainty in the difference (p-q) is also equal to the sum

(δp + δq) of the original uncertainties.

13
 Fractional or Relative uncertainty

Fractional uncertainty =

Length l = 50 1 cm

Fractional uncertainty

14
Relative errors of products and
ratio of two variables

15
Summary: Two Simple Rules

16
 Why to improve addition rule?

y=7.5-0.2 cm
x=5.3+0.2 cm
y=7.5+0.2 cm

δx= 0.2 cm, probability of δy is 0.2 is 0.5

17
Propagation of errors

18
Propagation of errors

19
Propagation of errors

20
 General formula

General formula for propagation of error:

If q=q(xi, xi+1 . . . . ., xn), then

(Provided all errors are independent and random)

For q = xn fractional uncertainty is

21
How to use general formula?

22
Propagation of errors

23
Systematic and Random Errors

24
Systematic and Random Errors

Real experiment
25
Statistical Analysis of Random Errors

26
Statistical Analysis of Random Errors

27
28
29
 Summary

 Systematic error: Reproducible inaccuracy introduced by faulty

equipment, calibration or technique.

 Random error: Indefiniteness of result introduced by finite precision

of measurement or statistical variations. Measure of fluctuation after
repeated experimentation.

 Uncertainty: Magnitude of error that is estimated to have been

made in determination of results.

 Accuracy: Measure of how close the result of an experiment comes

to the “true” value.

 Precision: Measure of how carefully the result is determined without

reference to any “true” value.
30
 Summary-propagation of errors
General formula for propagation of error: If q=q(xi,xi+1 . . . . .,xn) is any function of
xi,xi+1 . . . . .,xn, then

(Provided all errors are independent and random)

31
 Summary-statistical error

Statistical Error: If xi, xi+1 . . . . .,xn are N measurements of the same

quantity x, all using the same method. If all the uncertainties are
random and small,

The best estimate of x (mean)

The average uncertainty of individual xi,xi+1 . . . . .,xn is given by

standard deviation, or SD:

32
Estimate and Try to keep error small

Source: http://antongerdelan.net/teaching/vis/datareps
33
Qualitative Error in Slope

34
 Straight line fit
Suppose you have measurement of (x1,y1), (x2,y2)…….(xN, yN) and you want to fit it with
best straight line y=Bx +A

For this one has to minimize the χ2 defines as

35
 An example of best line fit
Suppose a spring is hanging vertically and you put different mass on the bottom of
spring. The spring will extend to different lengths. Here mass is like “x” and the
length the spring extends is “y”.

36
 An example of best line fit (cont.)

Slope, B

Intercept, A
37
 Semester & next two weeks plan
• There are nine experiments total in this semester.
• The lab manuals are on Physics Dept website
http://physics.niser.ac.in/act.php (under lab manual in semester-I (P-141)

• Read the lab manual before coming to class

• There will be lab teacher, scientists, PhD students and lab operator
to help you during lab class.

Next two weeks Plan:

• You will do two experiments in next two weeks. Everybody will do the same two
experiments to know how to use error analysis properly. You will submit the
report of these two experiments also and it will be graded
• In the first week first 50 students will do expt-I and the other 50 will do expt-II.
• In the second week, it will be swapped.
38
 Expt.1 : Error Analysis Training
• ‘g’ by free fall
• You measure the time ‘T’ of free fall large
number of times T1, T2, ........TN
• Calculate corresponding the ‘g1,g2 ..... gN’
• Find the mean ‘g’ and standard deviation in ‘g’
• Report the ‘g’ value with measurement error
• Is there any systematic error?

39
 Expt.2: Error Analysis Training
• Volume of the metal bar
• Determine the least count of vernier calipers,
screw gauze and travelling microscope
• Measure length, breadth and thickness of metal
bar using vernier calipers and screw gauze
• Calculate volume and calculate error in volume
by using error propagation formula
• Use travelling microscope to find the volume of
metal bar by measuring the volume change of
water

40
Reference
An Introduction to Error Analysis:
John R. Taylor
Additional References
A Practical Guide to Data Analysis for
Physical Science Students: Louis Lyons

Data Reduction and Error Analysis:

P. R. Bevington and D. K. Robinson

Practical Physics: G L Squires

41
 List of Experiments
• ‘g’ by compound pendulum
• Young’s modulus by bending of a beam
• Specific heat of Graphite
• Thermal conductivity of a poor conductor
• Viscosity of liquids by falling ball method
• Surface tension by capillary rise method
• Determination of ‘J’, Joule constant by electrical method
• Standing waves and spring constant of a soft massive
spring
• Moment of Inertia of different bodies
42
 Lab Evaluation P141
(1)Weekly Lab work and report submission (50 marks)
-> Aim of the experiment (one or two lines)
-> Theoretical introduction, what formula used,
apparatus, diagrams
-> Data (table)
-> Analysis (plots, error calculations)
-> Summary/Conclusion

(2) Viva (20 marks)

(3) Final Examination (30 marks)

You will be given one of the experiments which you
performed in the laboratory during semester, in the final exam

43
 Lab Evaluation P141

(1)Weekly Lab work and report submission (50)

-> If you perform a experiment this week, you need to submit
the report the following week (at the beginning of lab class)
So, you have one week to prepare your lab report.

-> If you miss to submit the report in the following lab,

50% of the lab report mark will be taken off
-> If you submit the report after 2 weeks, 75% will be taken off.
-> After 2 weeks, Lab reports will not be accepted.
(in case you are sick or you have any other reason that stops you
from submitting report or performing lab, send email to your
TA’s/ Teacher before lab class, not after)

44